How are rotating polygons used for LiDAR?

Polygon scanners can be single line (regular polygons) or multi-line (multiple lines). As a single line polygon scanner rotates it will reflect light repeatedly in a single horizontal line. By directing a LiDAR channel on that rotating polygon, one can create a single line of LiDAR data (A 2-D point cloud including azimuthal angle and distance). Similarly, by illuminating a multi-line polygon with a LiDAR channel one can create multiple horizontal lines of LiDAR data (a 3-D point cloud, azimuthal angle, elevation angle, and distance). For example, an eighth sided, multi-line scanner with one LiDAR channel can create a 3D point cloud with eight distinct horizontal lines of data. Couple that same scanner to eight LiDAR channels, and you have a point cloud with 64 horizontal lines of data.

There many alternative configurations, some of which include a second scanner. Contact us to see what product and configuration is right for you.